Skirt.



W. W. HOOK.

SKIRT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE5, 1907.

I Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

14511268965: Inventor:

W. W. HOOK.

SKIRT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1907.

14,414., Patented Mar.9,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l/l z messes: Inzfenfor:

a /kwm M WALTER WILLIAM HOOK, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

SKIRT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filed June 5, 1907. Serial No. 377,346.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER WILLIAM HOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to ladies skirts, and has for its object to provide a skirt of which both the length and the waist-measure can be quickly and easily altered.

While the garment forming the subjectmatter of the herein-described invention is adapted particularly to be worn during the period of pregnancy, and immediately thereafter while the form is returning to normal condition, and, accordingly, is so made that its girth or length can be increased or diminished from time to time, as the changes in the wearers condition may necessitate, it can, nevertheless, be worn at any other time. Most skirts adapted for use by pregnant women must be discarded after confinement, or, if used at all thereafter, must be completely remodeled and made over, and such changes are always difficult and frequently unsatisfactory. The herein-described garment, however, in addition to being serviceable both during the period mentioned and while the form is returning to normal condition, can, without any alterations, be used for ordinary wear. In addition to serving the specific purpose above stated, these skirts, being adapted equally well for general use, can be sold advantageously by dealers who do not care to carry a large assortment of sizes in ready-made clothing, for they can be assured of their ability to provide their customers with well-fitting garments even with only a small stock from which to select, for the hereindescribed skirts can be so adjusted as neatly to fit almost any person.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a front view of the underskirt; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same member; Fig. 3 is a front view of the garment with the overskirt only partly adjusted Fig. 4 is a view of the garment as it appears when being worn; and Fig. 5 is a modified form of the adjusting lacings.

The garment, as a whole, comprises an underskirt, which is adjustable both in length and girth, and an overskirt, which is fastened in place after the underskirt has been properly adjusted and hung. The underskirt comprises a foundation 1, and a fiounce 2, the member 1 being preferably made of serviceable but light-weight material, such as lining. Since the flounce 2 will usually show below the bottom of the overskirt 3, it must be made of some suitable dress goods, and may or may not be of the same material as the overskirt 3, as the taste and purse of the wearer may determine.

In the foundation member 1 is an arcuate cut or slit 4, adjacent the edges of which are placed eyelets 5, through which lacings 6 are passed. Said laced out 4 extends horizontally from side-seam to side-seam, or through approximately half the circumference of the skirt, and across the front thereof. When it is desired to lengthen the skirt, the lacing is loosened, and the width of the slit 4 thereby increased, thus allowing that part of the skirt below the laced cut to drop toward the ground. Conversely, when the skirt is to be shortened, the lacing is tightened, and the bottom of the skirt thus lifted away from the ground. A flap 7, seamed along line at 8 to the inner side of foundation member 1, hangs down behind the laced cut 4, and serves as a guard for same.

The flounce 2 is sewed along scams 9 and 10 to member 1, which may, of course, extend to any desired length below said seams, and thus form the lining for flounce 2. Seam 10, must be below the laced out 4, and should be parallel thereto. The flounce 2, beyond seam 10, terminates in a tongue 11, which is several inches greater in length than the distance from seam 10 to waistband'12, and which can be turned or tucked down in side waistband 12, as at 13. Tongue 11, therefore, conceals the front of the laced cut 4, so that, even if the folds of the overskirt should become disarranged, and the normally overlapping edges thereof pulled apart, the tongue 11 would render the lacings invisible since only said tongue could be seen beneath the overskirt. Said tongue may, also, adjust the length of the skirt independently of laced cut 4, such adjustment being effected by varying the length of the flap 13 which is tucked inside the waistband 12.

The placket 14 in the rear of the underskirt can be closed by any suitable fastening devices, such as buttons, lacings, hooks and eyes, snaps, or the like. On each side of placket 14 is a vertically-extending laced out 15, similar in construction to out 4, each cut 15 having a guarding flap 16 therebeneath. In lieu of having laced cuts, however, webs 17 may be sewed to the outside of the underskirt, and the laces passed through eyes therein, the gathering 18 of the underskirt serving as the guard for the lacing, this construction being shown in detail in Fig. 5.

After the underskirt is fastened in place the overskirt 3 can be put on above the underskirt. Said overskirt has a waistband 19, which is equipped with any suitable fastening device (hooks 20 and eyes 21 being shown conventionally, as one example), and the skirt can be given any desired girth merely by hooking or otherwise fastening the overlapping ends of the waistband together at the proper point. The form and style of skirt depicted in the drawings is, of course, only one example of the many in which the garment may be made, and the cut of all parts of the garment can be varied in accordance with the prevailing fashion. The two sides of the overskirt overlap in front, and may, if so desired, be fastened together at point 22, though it is not necessary thus to fasten them since only the flounce will show beneath the overskirt in case the wind should blow the overlapping edges of the overskirt apart.

The method of using the garment will'be largely evident from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but may be summarized as follows: The girth of the underskirt is adjusted by means of the vertically-extending lacings 15, and its length by means of the horizontal lacing 4. After the size has thus been properly adjusted, the underskirt is put on, flap 13 tucked inside the waistband, and the placket fastened, thus holding the underskirt in place. The overskirt is then placed over the underskirt, and fastened in place by means of the hooks and eyes or other fastening devices on waistband 19.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is:

1. A skirt having an arcuate slit across the front thereof, and means for altering the distance between the edges of said slit, thereby to adjust the length of the skirt.

2. A skirt having a laced cut extending transversely thereacross, eyelets fixed adjacent the edgesof said out, and lacings passing through said eyelets.

3. A skirt having a vertically-extending lacing for adjusting its girth, and a horizontally extending lacing for adjusting its length.

4. A skirt having a vertically-extending cut and a horizontally-extending cut, and means for altering the distance between the edges of said cuts, thereby to adjust the girth and length of said skirt.

5. A skirt comprising a foundation, a flounce, and an extension from said flounce, said foundation member having means therein for adjusting the length of the skirt, said extension partly covering and concealing said adjusting means.

6. A skirt having a slit across the front thereof, means for altering the distance between the edges of said slit, thereby to ad just the length of the skirt, and a flap attached to the inner side of the skirt and covering said slit.

7. A skirt having a laced cut across the front thereof, means for altering the distance between the edges of said out, thereby to adjust the length of the skirt, a flap attached to the inner side of the skirt, and a flap attached to the outer side thereof, said flaps covering and protecting said laced out.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER WILLIAM HOOK.

Witnesses:

Jos. AMBER, I'IILDA NORD- 

